Caregiver’s vision of bedding textiles for elderly

Abstract

Senior citizens have specific needs for bedding, clothing, hygiene and medical textiles that are an essential part of their daily life. The “Textiles for Ageing Society (TAGS)” project deals with these specific demands. Caregivers from 6 European countries were asked by means of a semi-structured interview, how bedding textiles can contribute to daily care work. We found that better design could support care work substantially. As examples, in the short term, better design of colour and style should avoid a hospital like appearance, and better control of bed climate will improve a resident’s sleep quality. Long term developments are prevented by a number of barriers. Introduction of new bedding concepts is retarded by the fragmented situation between the elderly, care givers, purchasers, manufacturers, researchers, care organisations and politics which needs to be overcome. Caregivers as experts must be heard and their needs must be transformed into more appropriate, cost effective designs of bedding textiles, which can support to the quality of residents in care homes substantially. More intelligent textiles substantially could contribute to support care workers, however their potential has not been exploited yet.